Back in June

Apologies, one and all, for the delay in letting you know that I would be taking a break from blogging until mid-June. I should have posted a note to that effect a few weeks ago. My birthday on the 17th June is also my self-imposed deadline for the completion of the first draft of my Young Adult novel, tentatively titled The Forging, so I am currently neck-deep in research, writing and re-writing. All things 'net-related' have been put on hold for a while but I will be back, you have my word!

In the meantime, given the continuing inability of John Lewis to supply me with a Leg Master machine, I have invested in a rather snazzy pair of FitFlops - cunningly engineered flip-flops which promise to give you 'a workout while you walk'. They've been popping up all over the place in the press lately and when I read what other users had to say about them, I thought I'd give them a try. They did take a little getting used to - I spent the first couple of hours wobbling my way around the place - but now I'm striding about like a well-balanced pro. There are loads of designs to choose from on the main site but I bought mine from Boots.com where there was significantly less choice (four styles only) on offer, but many more Advantage Card points to be had - and (to steal a phrase from a well-known supermarket) in these straitened times, 'every little helps!' ;-)

Vital statistics for the last few weeks:

Books In: Oodles (Even my library card is full - though those volumes at least will eventually be evicted...)

Books Out: None (Big surprise, I know - so unlike me!)

And finally, as a Londoner, I am still buzzing from the results of the mayoral election at the beginning of the month. 'Ding dong, the witch is dead' indeed! I really didn't think it could happen but, bless me, it did - Ken Livingstone has gone at last. Boris Johnson may on occasion evoke images of hyperactive Old English Sheepdogs bounding about and knocking things over (I feel compelled to point out that the nickname 'Bojo' does nothing to dispel this impression), but the early signs are encouraging. London life just might be about to improve... :-)

I hope everyone is well. If any events of monumental national importance should occur within the next few weeks (and, no, the Crewe by-election does not qualify!) I might just pop in to say hello and compare notes, but otherwise I'll see you again in June!